Greenbrier Classic pre-qualifier: Bradshaw hopes third time is charm

DANIELS, W.Va. — Bakerton native David Bradshaw hopes the third time is the charm, and former Parkersburg standout Ken Hess wants to put together another low number.

The top 52 players from Thursday's Greenbrier Classic pre-qualifier have a whole weekend to think about how they plan to attack the 7,151-yard, par 72 Cobb Course for a shot at one of four positions in the third annual Greenbrier Classic.

"I just want to have fun," said Hess, who graduated from Parkersburg High School in 2006, spent two years at Concord, finished at WVU-Parkersburg and since March, 2010, has tried his hand at the professional circuit. "If I shoot a 65 or a 75, I just want to have fun."

Hess will be back Monday after shooting a 67 on Thursday. Bradshaw shot a 71.

Only one player out of the eight who have managed to Monday qualify for the Greenbrier Classic has played in the pre-qualifier -- Garrett Frank last year. That is, advance through 36 holes of qualifying at The Resort at Glade Springs to play in a PGA Tour event.

Hess, whose caddy was Poca's Grant Humphrey, likes having a positive perspective on the experience.

Bradshaw, who raked in $30,000 for winning the Frank B. Fuhrer Jr. Invitational on Wednesday, isn't at the 7,151-yard, par 72 Cobb Course for a good time.

It's all business for the former Shepherd standout, who has returned to West Virginia every year to play in the pre-qualifier. He lost in a playoff in the Monday qualifier two years in a row.

"Three years in a row," Bradshaw said of his third attempt at the Classic. "I'm going to try to shoot 64 or something. That's the goal. The goal is not to shoot 6-under, because you know the playoff is probably going to be at 5-under. The goal is to shoot 8 or 7 under."

In 2010 and '11, Greenbrier Owner Jim Justice offered an exemption to the champion of the State Amateur. While speculation swirled about Justice's plans for the State Open, no exemption ever was offered.

As Bradshaw was winning the Open for the fifth time (2010) and sixth time (2011), he found no other way to reach the Greenbrier Classic than to muddle through grueling qualifiers.

He missed out two years ago when Dick Mast, Bob Sowards, Alex Hamilton and David Morland claimed the four spots. Last year he had another playoff and another disappointment with Rod Pampling, Garrett Frank, Steve Allan and Andre Stolz filling the spots.

He and the other qualifiers will have an all-star field to face on Monday. Among the participants already registered is former PGA Tour player Frank Lickliter, and the talk of the PGA Tour, Patrick Reed, who already has qualified for four Tour events through Monday qualifiers.

Among the qualifiers for Monday is Christian Brand, who recently turned pro and shot a 71. Bramlett's John Ross, who has played in multiple PGA Tour and Champions Tour events during his career, just got under the wire for the cut, which ended up being 3-over 75.

He has played in 48 PGA Tour events in his career and has five top 25 finishes to his credit.

Ross, who also has won the State Open twice, said that getting in a PGA Tour event at 60 would be something to remember. He lost in the playoff of last year's Monday qualifier.

"At the age of 60 to get the chance to play there would be like playing in a major," Ross said. "I don't know how many PGA Tour events I've played in my career. I'd like to get another crack at it.

"Living here in the state, it would mean a lot to me."

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THE FIELD for the Monday qualifier ballooned to 26 on Thursday when the PGA Tri-State Section received more than 20 entries. With the addition of 52 from Thursday's event at Glade Springs, there are 78 players entered for the Monday qualifier with the deadline not until 5 p.m. today.